T. Nanbu et al., DIFFERENTIATION OF VASOSPASTIC ANGINA FROM NONCARDIAC CHEST PAIN BY HISTORY AND CORONARY RISK-FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH CHEST PAIN AT REST, Internal medicine, 36(10), 1997, pp. 676-679
To determine the efficacy of the medical interview and the coronary ri
sk factor profile in differentiating vasospastic angina from other cau
ses of chest pain, we examined 59 patients who underwent diagnostic co
ronary angiography with selective intracoronary injection of acetylcho
line, In the medical interview, a questionnaire on the characteristics
of chest pain and additional symptoms was given, We examined coronary
risk factors from laboratory tests, life history, and physical examin
ation, Chest pain accompanied by cold sweat and occurring in the early
morning was the only significant discriminating information; the loca
tion of pain and the duration were not discriminating, Classic coronar
y risk factors did not differ between vasospastic angina and noncardia
c chest pain except for gender, We conclude that history taking is the
most important means to distinguish vasospastic angina from other cau
ses of chest pain.